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Father's Day always brings back even more memories

Every year since 1999 I have spent a little extra time on Father’s Day reminiscing about my dad and all that he taught me. He died the week after Father’s Day that year.

I said goodbye to my father on that Father’s Day 13 years ago. His cancer had gotten the best of him and I had made the trip from Macon, Ga., to Cincinnati for the last time that weekend to see him on his special day.

I remember that visit like it was yesterday. He was at home and Hospice was making weekly visits. He was in good spirits but not ready to go. My mother was his main caregiver. And, after 16 months of battling the disease, it was his time.

At the young age of 60 years old and with three grown daughters, a wife and four grandchildren, his life was just getting more interesting.

It doesn’t get any easier as more time passes and we celebrate more Father’s Days without my dad around to see his grandchildren graduate from high school and to mark other milestones. But we do have great memories and funny stories.

Last weekend when I was in Madison, Wis., to celebrate my nephew’s high school graduation, we started joking about things my dad used to do when we were in high school. It brought back a lot of memories and although nobody said anything, I am pretty sure we all were thinking the exact same thing. We miss him and wish he could be part of the special day.

My dad liked to play jokes on us. I can imagine what it was like for him living in a home with three daughters and a wife. He used to tell people he could not get a word in at the dinner table. That was not quite true, but he did give us plenty of laughs with some of his tricks on my mom or my grandmother when she visited.

My dad spent a lot of time working in the yard, garden or playing golf — that might have been to escape from us at times. But he also dedicated a lot of time to teaching us to play sports.

Early on we were involved in every recreational sport you can imagine.

As a family, we played softball in the backyard. We also had a pool, a basketball goal, and volleyball and badminton courts.

To put it mildly, you could say we were competitive. We still are. I would say we are an excellent example of sibling rivalry. Even though we all live in different states and don’t see each other very often, my mom could attest to the competitive spirit in all of us. Herself included.

While we all told stories of things that my dad did or said at one time or another, we all agreed that things would probably be a lot different if he were here today to take part in a family event like a high school graduation.

My dad has missed three high school graduations so far. All three have been vastly different, but at each one we took a moment to celebrate the man who wasn’t there to celebrate with us. I do that again today on this Father’s Day.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers who make a difference every single day and not just on this holiday.

Editor Kathy Nelson may be reached at kathy.nelson@blufftontoday.com or 843-815-0800, Ext. 19.